FED-NET: Creating the blueprint for a federated network of next generation, cross-council Trusted Research Environments

Solving complex challenges requires data collected for different purposes and from different sources and geographical locations. However, combining data is challenging. There are public concerns about data security/access. Data governance (the legal and ethical framework for data access) is critical. There are technical challenges when combining data collected in different data languages and building secure computer networks which enable collaborative work but protect privacy.

FED-NET builds on the operational Trusted Research Environments (TREs) offered by PIONEER, the acute care data hub. A TRE is a secure database, with complete control over what data is placed in or removed from the system and how it is analysed.

FED-NET tested whether federated analytics could offer a scalable solution to the technical and governance challenges of analysing datasets separated by geography and data language. Federated analytics is where different datasets are stored within separate TREs, and instead of the data moving to one location for analysis, the analytical code is sent to each TRE and the results pooled.

This work was funded by UK Research & Innovation [Grant Number: MC_PC_21028] as part of Phase 1 of the DARE UK (Data and Analytics Research Environments UK) programme, which is delivered in partnership with Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) and ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK).